It’s no secret that Antipolo City is one of the best places near Manila for the most breathtaking views. Standing on an incline, the capital city of Rizal provides countless chances of unadulterated panoramas. In fact, locals refer to the Antipolo hillsides as “overlooking”, because of the obvious fact that it does overlook quite a view.
Craving for a quick revitalising trip with endless nature and metropolis scenes? Get ready to start planning — here are the best overlooking spots in Antipolo!
Also read: Antipolo Day Tour Itinerary: 5 Fun Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
Hotels and resorts with breathtaking views
1. Cloud 9
There’s hardly any competition: Cloud 9 has always been the best spot in Antipolo for overlooking views. Visitors and locals agree to this — the attraction is a consistent contender on the list.
An obvious crowd favourite, Cloud 9 just has a way of making you feel like you’re on top of the world. With a hanging bridge that connects to its view deck, this hotel in the sky just keeps on giving. From the viewing deck, you’ll have a 360° perspective of the city views. It’s a popular spot for watching the sunset, too.
2. Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites
It seems as though everyone has heard only good things about Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites. Burrowed in the ridges of Antipolo, this dreamy resort prides itself in being the first and only hanging gardens and spa in the Philippines.
Built to provide guests with an excellent wellness experience, Luljetta’s leverages on the lush natural beauty of Antipolo. Its structure was built to embrace the breathtaking sceneries of the city, so you can expect some of the best nature views from up here.
3. Boso Boso Highlands Resort and Hotel
A local recommendation, Boso Boso Highlands Resort and Hotel has the perfect atmosphere for unwinding as a family. Some people like to refer to this place as “Little Baguio”, as its elevation allows guests to enjoy a cooler temperature all year round.
Boso Boso Highlands provides a beautiful view of either the Sierra Madre mountains or the Laguna de Bay from its rooms and facilities. And talking about facilities, this resort has loads of them: a zipline, an open pavilion, a trekking trail, a café, a basketball court, and an obstacle course!
Antipolo overlooking restaurants and bistros
4. Tahanan Bistro
If you’re keen to look for stunning spots in Antipolo, make sure to drop by Tahanan Bistro. This casual fine dining restaurant does a lot more than provide guests with astounding city views — it also mesmerises with its interiors!
Made of completely reclaimed wood, Tahanan Bistro brings parts of salvaged old houses and bridges back to life. Its owners, Benji and Carina Reyes, originally designed the place as their home. Later, they transformed a portion into a picturesque bistro.
During COVID-19, Tahanan Bistro accepts a maximum of 10 people at a time to adhere to safety protocols. Kids under 13 years old may not enter the premises. They accept seat reservations, so you may coordinate with them before your visit.
5. Kaulayaw Coffee
In Lower Antipolo, you will find the newly established Kaulayaw Coffee. But while this café is a newbie in the market, it has served several guests with luscious cups of coffee and delectable breakfast meals in the sky.
Aside from its wonderful views, Kaulayaw Coffee draws visitors for its specially made coffee. A small business, the establishment makes sure to source its ingredients sustainably from local farmers. During COVID-19, Kaulayaw Coffee has started offering its coffee beans for delivery.
Kaulayaw Coffee is open from 7am to 10pm on the weekends, and 1pm to 10pm from Monday to Friday. They accept seat reservations, so you may coordinate with them before your visit.
6. Café Lupe Bed and Breakfast
What’s better than overlooking Antipolo views, you ask? Try overlooking Antipolo views from an infinity pool.
Café Lupe is one of the popular “overlooking” restaurants in Antipolo. Beyond offering food, they also have a quaint bed and breakfast for those who want to stay over. This establishment has all the amenities you need — including a pool, a bar, a gym, a stage, and a KTV room — and spectacular views are accessible from every corner. Citylights also look fantastic from this spot.
Café Lupe Bed and Breakfast is open from 8am to 2am on the weekends, and 8am to 12am from Monday to Thursday. They accept seat reservations, so you may coordinate with them before your visit.
7. Double Deck Overlooking Restobar
Its name speaks for itself: Double Deck Overlooking Restobar is yet another establishment in the “Antipolo overlooking” cluster. Visitors flock to this quaint spot to dine (and drink!) al fresco, as its outdoor dining experience offers dazzling views of the cityscape at night.
Lately, more travellers keen to visit Tagaytay have even been considering Double Deck as a more convenient alternative. After all, the restobar offers a quick, idyllic getaway with decent and affordable food and beverage options. Double Deck also has a covered area, in case you visit on a rainy day.
Double Deck Overlooking Restobar is open from 7am to 9pm on the weekends, and 2pm to 9pm from Monday to Friday. They accept seat reservations, so you may coordinate with them before your visit.
Also read: 12 Relaxing Cafes in Antipolo to Escape Manila’s Busy City Life
8. Pintô Art Museum
Pintô Art Museum is no stranger to the travel community. A beautiful exhibition space, Pintô was built to house the best of Filipino art — evidently including the exquisite greeneries of Silangan Gardens.
While Pintô is celebrated for many things, it is also quite the contender for the most-visited viewing decks in Antipolo. Although it does not overlook panoramic views as the other spots in this list, the Pintô roof deck still attracts visitors for the spectacle of an orange sunset glimmering against whitewashed walls.
Bonus destinations in Rizal
Antipolo is a stone’s throw away from other breathtaking towns in Rizal. If you have more than a day to spare, definitely check out these local-recommended establishments that offer scenic views as well.
- Masungi Georeserve in Baras
- Art Sector Gallery and Chimney Cafe 360º in Binangonan
- Jala-Jala Sunflower Farm in Jala-Jala
- Pililla Wind Farm in Pililla
- Mt. Binacayan in Rodriguez
- Mt. Parawagan in Sitio Wawa
- The Sierra Madre Hotel & Resort in Tanay
- Pranjetto Hills Resort and Conference Center in Tanay
- Paseo Rizal in Tanay
- Nagpatong Rock in Tanay
- Treasure Mountain in Tanay
- Mount Daraitan in Tanay
Also read: 8 Airbnbs in Antipolo for Your Next Stargazing Trip
If you visit the overlooking Antipolo spots yourself, you will find a myriad of places to hang out in; because of that, spontaneous trips to this city wouldn’t normally be a problem. But as far as the pandemic goes, it’s now more ideal to have a certain destination in mind before heading to the city.
Paying a visit during COVID-19? Make sure to review the safety protocols of the establishments you’re visiting, and even book a reservation if possible. Stay safe and travel responsibly!
